Where Will Southampton Finish?

Paully D

Despite many (myself included) thinking that Southampton's excellent start to the season may have faltered a bit after a very tough December/mid-January run of fixtures, that hasn't proved to be the case.

They remain in 3rd place on 42 points, 2 ahead of Manchester United in 4th place, 5 ahead of Tottenham in 5th, 6 ahead of Arsenal in 6th who have a game in hand away to Manchester City this afternoon and 7 ahead of Liverpool in 7th.

On paper, they have a nice run-in to the season, with the same fixtures that saw their excellent start to the season in reverse.

So, with 16 games remaining where do you think Southampton will finish this season? Their fixtures can be found here, with the current Premier League table below:



Poll to follow, in which I think it's fair to assume that Chelsea and Manchester City will take the top two spots.

CSF

5th

You'd have to think they're above 50% likely to be top 4 now, but with that said there is still every chance that the arse will fall out of them.

A lot will depend on just how much pressure the North London clubs can put on them.

Beefy78

6th

Chelsea
City
Arsenal
Spurs
Southampton
United.

So fifth.

FutureGuy

5th

They have the defensive stability to cement a top four. Their attacking options in Tadic, Pelle, Mane can score agaist most teams and youd be pressed to find a better pair of full backs in terms of attacking from open play.

Schneiderlain and Wanayama are a great mid field pairing. Very solid keeper too.

Without being superb in any area, they are a very good solid team. Would expect 4th or 5th, most likely the latter.

Would be brilliant for English football to see them in CL.

CSF

5th

There's a very real danger for Southampton if they finish 4th though, they'd be unseeded in their qualifier so would likely face a Valencia or a Napoli.

And there's every chance there squad will be gutted in the summer again unfortunately.

eagle eye

It all depends on injuries imo. They are currently without Wanyama and Schneiderlin in midfield and they are still missing Alderweireld at the back. They seem to have a good replacement for Alderweireld in Gardos but I'm not so sure that Steven Davis and Harrison Reed can sustain the level of play they have had from their deep lying midfielders. The next couple of weeks while they are missing Wanyama and Schneiderlin are crucial. If they can get through that period still in position then I think they will make the Champion's league.

IncognitoMan

6th

Chelsea
City
Man utd
Arsenal
Southampton
Spurs

I think when it comes to the business end of the season they will fall just short. Still 5th or 6th with the sales they made last summer that had many predicting they would be in a relegation fight is some achievement

Unearthly

I'm sticking to my relegation prediction

PhlegmyMoses

7th

History tells us that Arsenal usually put together a good run in any given season and they usually get CL football. They haven't had that run yet so it'll be interesting to see.

United are hit and miss. They have the players to cake walk to 3rd in whatis a poor year, but there are question marks over LVG's decisions. If he can get them to play anywhere near their best, they'll end above Southampton.

If Southampton stay above United and Arsenal, they'll be top 4. Can't see Pool and Spurs getting CL this year.

Anyway, not to worry lads, I will have Southampton in LMS next week, so dropped points are a guarantee.

Harry Palmr

7th

I've gone for 6th but it should be noted that estimating the final place is rather crude given that this season has the whiff of goal difference decides about it. I can see a bunch of sides in the 3rd - 7th zone being all right in the hunt for a CL spot until the final game or two.

Oranage2

No 1st or 2nd poll options?

HalloweenJack

I honestly think they could do it. Had a look at their fixtures and only Chelsea and Man City, both away, are the fixtures you think they're not favourites for, on current form.

They remind me a lot of Everton that time. Everyone thought they'd fall off but they held on. They're just solid enough to do it I think.

If anything, losing all those players might have helped them out in the long run. It lowered expectations and pressure.

Paully D

eagle eye wrote: »

It all depends on injuries imo. They are currently without Wanyama and Schneiderlin in midfield and they are still missing Alderweireld at the back. They seem to have a good replacement for Alderweireld in Gardos but I'm not so sure that Steven Davis and Harrison Reed can sustain the level of play they have had from their deep lying midfielders. The next couple of weeks while they are missing Wanyama and Schneiderlin are crucial. If they can get through that period still in position then I think they will make the Champion's league.

Davis is one of the most underrated players in the league in my opinion. Scheiderlin is a big loss but I'm not so sure they miss Wanyama all that much with Davis as his replacement.

Oranage2 wrote: »

No 1st or 2nd poll options?

No, because it's not very likely to happen and then the poll gets flooded with the rib-splitting "hilarity" crowd choosing 1st.

Red Kev

6th

1. City
2. Chelsea
3. Man Utd
4. Liverpool/Arsenal
5. Southampton
6. Liverpool/Arsenal
7. Spurs

Depends if Arsenal begin to click a bit better over the next 3-4 months, and 3 or 4 points to separate 4th, 5th & 6th, probably less than 6 points on it including 3rd place. Looks very tight.

I'd love to see Southampton in the CL though, even if it means Liverpool missing out.

Their 3 matches since the half-way point have been Arsenal, United and Newcastle and they've won all 3. 9 wins out of 16 matches remaining should do it for them and while instinctively one would expect Arsenal and United to do it, it's hard to bet against Southampton.

LeBash

7th

Think they will run out of steam at the business end of the season. Hope they make it but id say 6th. Well done to Koeman either way. I thought they were going down this year after losing practically all key personel

I think they might sneak top 4 after looking at their remaining games.

COYVB

7th or lower, i went for outside the top 8 though in the vote because they've not got much beyond their starting xi - a few injuries and they'll fall apart. That's no great shame though, they've accomplished great things so far

astonaidan

4th

Unearthly wrote: »

I'm sticking to my relegation prediction

I was just going to bring this up, the talk at the start of the season was a little premature

FatherTed

Where will Southampton finish?

I believe their last game is at Man City, so that would be Manchester

eagle eye

FatherTed wrote: »

Where will Southampton finish?

I believe their last game is at Man City, so that would be Manchester

Green Giant

7th

Really, really hoping they can get 3rd or 4th, but unfortunately I reckon Man Utd and Arsenal, from April onward, will close out the season better and could take the other 2 CL spots.

Hopefully they won't do an Everton 13/14 (hammer Arsenal with a month to go to take charge of their destiny and fall apart with the finish line in sight)

Giggsy11

6th

They have very good chance to finish in top 4. They are very solid defensively and have attacking players who compliment each other. Not superstars but each attacker offers something unique to the team.

Also playing Schneiderlin and Wanyama works now because teams play open game against them but if opposition team drops deep and play like against any big teams then they might struggle to create much.

For now they have done excellently to be in the position they are in. Losing half the team and replacing them along with manager but plays like they are playing together for years.

5starpool

8th

I wouldn't mind them getting top 4 (assuming Liverpool don't confound expectations and get it), but I think they will fall off, despite their excellent rebound from a few defeats against some of the top teams a while back. I think 6th or 7th ultimately as we've often seen teams do really well in the past up until around March and then fallen away. It's not nailed on to happen this time of course but I reckon it will.

I'd much prefer them to get it and stop 2 from Arsenal/Utd/Spurs getting it anyhow in the likely event that Liverpool don't get it.

NukaCola

5th

I hope they make top 4. Long way to go but they are looking really good even after going through a bad patch Nov/Dec.

Nalz

5th or 6th I expect.

If United get top 4 I'd love to see them up their too, at City's expense of course

eagle eye wrote: »

Brilliant.

The irony.

TheDoc

1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Man United
4. Arsenal
5. Southampton
6. Totenham
7. Liverpool

Can't help but feel they will slip away. Arsenal will do what Arsenal do best, spank the teams beneath them to accumulate enough points to finish 4th and claim it a successful season. Just can't see them going the distance.

If they came 4th it would be superb.

Soups123

7th

I think it will play out something like

1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Arsenal
4. United
5. Spurs
6. Southampton
7. West Ham
8. Liverpool

Liverpool/West Ham may be in reverse

GavRedKing

7th

I voted for 6th, although I'd love to see them finish above Spurs after Pochettino jumped ship.

Al Capwned

Poll's closed but i would have plumped for 5th behind

1. Chelsea
2. City
3/4. Arsenal
3/4. United